Published : 28 October 2026
Read Time : 5 min
Author: Nikil Jonathan
The Land Rover Defender 110 is now up to Rs. 34 lakh cheaper in India after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) started assembling the luxury SUV at its Pune facility. Prices now start at Rs. 99 lakh (ex-showroom), taking the entry-level locally assembled version below the Rs. 1 crore mark. The price reduction is a result of shifting from importing fully built vehicles to assembling them in India using imported kits.

However, the price cut applies to select Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE variants, and not the entire Defender range. Here’s a look at the revised prices and how local assembly has made the SUV more affordable.
The locally assembled Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE is available with 2L turbo-petrol, 3L turbo-petrol and 3L diesel engine options. While the entry-level petrol version has received a price cut of around Rs. 14 lakh, the larger petrol and diesel versions are now Rs. 34 lakh cheaper.
All prices are ex-showroom. The earlier prices included options that are now offered as standard equipment. The 2.0-litre version includes 17 options worth Rs. 6.5 lakh, while the 3.0-litre versions include 29 options worth Rs. 17 lakh.
The price revision is therefore not just a change in the manufacturing route. Buyers also get equipment that was previously offered as paid options as part of the standard package, which affects the comparison with the earlier prices.
Bookings for the locally assembled Defender 110 are open, with deliveries scheduled to begin on November 15, 2026.
The main reason for the price reduction is the change from the completely built-up (CBU) import route to the completely knocked-down (CKD) route.
Until now, the Defender sold in India was imported as a fully assembled vehicle from JLR’s manufacturing facility in Slovakia. JLR have now started assembling the Defender 110 at their Pune facility using imported kits.
This reduces the need to import the entire finished vehicle and allows the company to benefit from the lower import duties applicable to CKD kits compared with fully built vehicles. The resulting reduction in import-related costs has enabled JLR to lower the Defender’s ex-showroom prices.
It is important to note that local assembly does not mean every component is manufactured in India. The vehicle is brought in as a kit and assembled at the domestic facility, with the change in the import and assembly process helping reduce the final cost.
CBU and CKD are 2 different ways for a carmaker to supply vehicles to India. Import duties are one of the reasons fully imported luxury cars cost more in India.
Under the CBU route, a vehicle is manufactured and fully assembled at an overseas plant before being imported into India as a finished product. The manufacturer must account for the applicable import duties and other costs associated with bringing the complete vehicle into the country. These costs contribute to the final ex-showroom price.
The Defender was previously imported into India through this route from Slovakia.
Under the CKD route, a vehicle is imported as a kit of components and assembled at a manufacturing facility in the destination country. For the Defender, JLR imports the kits and assembles the SUV at its Pune facility. Because CKD kits attract a different, generally lower, import duty structure than fully built vehicles, this route can reduce the landed cost of the vehicle.
The manufacturer can then pass some of those savings on to buyers through lower prices. The actual reduction depends on the applicable duties, local assembly costs, equipment and the manufacturer's pricing decisions.
In the Defender’s case, the shift to CKD assembly has helped bring prices down by up to Rs. 34 lakh, while selected equipment that was previously optional is now included as standard.
For now, local assembly is limited to the Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE with the 2L turbo-petrol, 3L turbo-petrol and 3L diesel engines.
Other Defender body styles and specialised versions continue to be imported as fully built vehicles. These include the Defender 90, Defender 130 and high-performance Defender Octa.
JLR already assembles several other models at its Pune facility, including select Range Rover and Range Rover Sport variants. The Defender’s addition expands the company’s local assembly operations in India.
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Content Writer
Nikil's a huge fan of classic cars, especially Italian beauties such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint and the Iso Grifo. His love for cars and bikes originated when he first laid his eyes on a poster of the Ferrari F40 and the MV Agusta F4 when he was just a child. He also loves all things analogue, especially vintage cameras and turntables.

























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